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Friday, July 11, 2008
It's P8 for Region 7
JEEPNEY passengers in Central Visayas will now have to pay P8 as minimum fare.
While bus passengers in Cebu will also have to pay more, the fare is still less than what was granted as increase.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved P8 as the region's minimum jeepney fare for the first five kilometers.
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Members of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association (CPBOA), meanwhile, will be collecting P8.50 as minimum fare. The amount, however, is less than the P9 set as fare for the first five kilometers.
Lessen impact
CPBOA member also decided to collect P1.20 for each additional kilometer, instead of the P1.40 hike for succeeding kilometers.
The group said they decided to implement a lower increase "to lessen the impact" of the fare increase.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia thanked the operators Thursday for choosing to collect a lower increase.
LTFRB 7 Director Romulo Bernardes, however, said jeepney drivers and operators cannot collect the new rate until they secure a tariff matrix, which will cost them P500.
"No matrix, no increase. However, we are open tomorrow, Saturday and on Sunday to issue tariff matrix," Bernardes said.
The matrix, which will be posted in jeepneys, will indicate fare rates and special rates for senior citizens and students, who are given 20 percent discount as mandated by law.
During Thursday's emergency meeting with LTFRB regional directors and members of the LTFRB Board, Bernardes said transport leaders in Cebu asked them to implement the P8.50 minimum fare nationwide.
Consensus
Among those who asked for it was Clifford Niñal of the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (Citrasco).
But Bernardes said he presented the result of the public hearing in Cebu last month, when a consensus was reached to have P8 as fare for the first five kilometers.
The amount was also favored by the Office of the Solicitor General, which was represented by Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba.
Bernardes said that while the increase in minimum fare for Metro Manila is P1, from P7.50 to P8.50, the increase in Cebu and the rest of Region 7 is P2 in less than two months.
This, he said, is because the original minimum fare was P6 until last May 21, when a provisional increase of P0.50 was granted.
Lawyer Manuel Iway, a former LTFRB director, said he will file a petition to stop the P10 increase in taxi fares scheduled to start on July 24.
Iway said it was illegal and immoral for LTFRB en banc to include Cebu in the increase when the Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association (MCTOA) did not ask for it.
Not affected
The LTFRB en banc is composed of Chairman Thompson Lantion and Board Members Ellen Cabatu and Gerardo Capili.
Iway said MCTOA is not affected by the fuel price increases because most of its units use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel. While gasoline is now at P60 per liter, LPG remains at P34.75 per liter and its use is economical, he said.
MCTOA chairman Richard Cabucos, however, said they filed a fare increase petition six months ago but they kept it secret because they did not want to antagonize Cebuano commuters.
Iway, however, challenged MCTOA to present the petition if indeed they filed one.
"It's very clear that MCTOA members and Cabucos are taking the opportunity when they don't deserve such increase. They should waive that increase and they should pity the people who are already suffering financially," Iway said.
Iway said that during his time, LTFRB conducted hearings in all regions whenever there is a petition for fare increase.
"I don't know why LTFRB officials today are making a mockery of the law. They should all resign," Iway said.
Cabucos, however, said the P10 increase is timely because the price of LPG is also increasing. (EOB of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (July 11, 2008 issue)
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